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Warriors’ Kevin Durant just wants to play and go home. It’s not that simple

Connor Letourneau| on
February 7, 2019

A reporter takes video of Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA basketball.

A reporter takes video of Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA basketball.

Photo: John Locher / Associated Press 2018

Photo: John Locher / Associated Press 2018

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A reporter takes video of Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA basketball.

A reporter takes video of Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA basketball.

Photo: John Locher / Associated Press 2018

Warriors’ Kevin Durant just wants to play and go home. It’s not that simple

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Long before he told a reporter to “grow up” Wednesday night, Kevin Durant won the Pro Basketball Writers Association’s Magic Johnson Award for his cooperation with media.

It was spring 2011, and Durant — the 22-year-old face of the Oklahoma City Thunder — had built a reputation as one of the NBA’s nicest All-Stars. His easygoing personality made him approachable. Instead of rushing through interviews, Durant often lingered, speaking with an awareness and insight that belied his youth.

From time to time, Durant — now 30 and in his third season with the Warriors — still shows media that candid, introspective side. But such revealing moments are less frequent than early in his NBA career. After enduring debate and speculation about his big decisions for almost a half-decade, Durant has grown wary of reporters.

A breaking point came after Wednesday’s 141-102 win over the Spurs, when he ripped the media for coverage of his pending free agency this summer. Durant denied having anything to do with the Knicks’ decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas last week and free up two max-salary slots. Pressed on why he hadn’t spoken publicly in nine days, Durant said, “I just don’t trust none of y’all. ... I just want to play ball. I want to go to the gym and go home.”

Since signing with Golden State in July 2016, Durant has made his desire to just play ball well known. At his core, he is a hoops junkie who, in many ways, has not gotten comfortable with the relentless scrutiny that comes with being one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Durant’s biggest problem in that regard seems to be that he can’t help himself. Numerous times in recent years, he has bemoaned a narrative, only to fuel that story line by tweeting under a burner account, posting a regrettable Instagram comment or simply saying the wrong thing.

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Kevin Durant during Golden State Warriors' Media Day in Oakland, Calif. on Monday, September 24, 2018.

Kevin Durant during Golden State Warriors' Media Day in Oakland,...

To quell speculation about him teaming with close friend Kyrie Irving in New York next season, Durant could have addressed the issue after a loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 31, mere hours after news of the Porzingis trade broke. A quick “I’m not going to talk about free agency” wouldn’t have silenced the chatter, but it would have at least taken some of the burden off of Durant to field questions about it.

Instead, Durant shirked his media responsibilities — a requirement of his $30 million contract this season. His silence only amplified speculation about his pending free agency. That this so upset Durant raises questions about his understanding about how the NBA operates.

Few subjects mean more to basketball fans than where their favorite players could sign next season, and media members work to get answers. Every All-Star-caliber player, not just Durant, fields free-agency questions during contract seasons. Durant is within his rights to skip interviews at the risk of getting fined, but that won’t keep reporters from trying to further their readers’ understanding.

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The notion that Durant could “go to the gym and go home” runs counter to a key marketing aspect of the NBA and its players. Durant is worth roughly $170 million not just because he’s a generational player and savvy businessman, but because fans — the same ones who want to know about his pending free agency — are buying tickets to see him play, and jerseys and sneakers to look like him.

Moments before Durant told a reporter from the Athletic on Wednesday to “grow up,” Durant said, “Y’all come in here every day, ask me about free agency, ask my teammates, my coaches. You rile up the fans about it.” In reality, however, Durant had been questioned publicly about free agency on only a handful of occasions this season: in training camp, after his mid-November spat with teammate Draymond Green, and each time the Warriors twice played New York.

Photo: Robert Laberge / Getty Images

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors loses control of the ball in the final seconds of the fourth quarter as Kevin Durant #35 of the Warriors reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 12, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors loses control of...

Asked whether the noise surrounding Durant’s future is weighing on Durant more than in previous months, Stephen Curry cut to the root of his teammate’s issue, saying, “I think it’s him not being able to control his voice.” In his 12th NBA season, Durant still wants to shape the narrative around him.

Early in his career, when many thought he wouldn’t leave Oklahoma City, Durant seldom got upset with the media because he faced less cutting scrutiny. Now that many stories about him have undermined his allegiances to teammates and to winning, Durant isn’t in the running for another Magic Johnson Award.

“He’s focusing on basketball, and that’s what he should do,” said Curry, the 2015 recipient of the Magic Johnson Award. “We want to see that KD every day and, so, what he can’t control is BS that happens in the media or people making the decision for him, or all this other stuff.”